Suppose the Trump voter outreach strategy works and they come back. THEN what?

[EffieBlack]

So, let’s suppose we get a bunch of Trump voters back to the Democratic Party.

What happens then?

They’ left the party for a reason. If they return, they're going to want some payback. What will that be? Pushing for more tax cuts/fewer regulations/more conservative judges? Backburnering civil rights - you know, because identity politics? Getting tougher on “illegals?” Stepping back on LGBT rights? Easing up on the whole pro-choice agenda?

Once they’re back in our party, they’re not going to be quiet and take a backseat while we continue moving our progressive agenda forward. They’re going to get involved and try to influence our policies and directions.

Y’all ok with that?

I’m not.

Maybe they’re better off staying right where they are ...

[ProudMNDemocrat]

1. Those already 18 and will be in 2020......

Reach put to them. Help them organize to get registered to vote, invite them to local Democratic Party events, and educate them early to vote for those who reflect their values and concerns. That would be Democrats.

[Tatiana]

2. Well, then you get stuck with a bunch of "Blue Dog" Republicans.

We've been there and done that.

Remember when some thought Joe Lieberman was a GREAT idea as VP?

All of those issues take a back cut. We go back to being owned by corporations. And no one will listen to the everyday members of the party.

[NCTraveler]

3. I'm not even sure we have LBM20...

I think our message should start there. Much better chance of getting them to vote Democratic than Trump supporters. I think.

[Afromania]

4. They'll do what they alway do, and then the hand wringing party can get going when we start losing

Because they didn't get their shit fast enough and Democratic voters feel like the party is too wishy washy with the centrist deference bullshit. So, you know, exactly what happened the last time.

[Blue_true]

5. We should offer them nothing.

I don't see how a racially and ethnically party can accommodate people that played footsie with racists like KKK, Nazis and other supremacists.

[hatrack]

6. Why, move to the right, Silly! It's always worked in the past!

[leftstreet]

7. I doubt they identify with parties, just personalities

If you're talking about people who voted for Trump but aren't his supporters

Whether we like it or not, people can vote without knowing a single thing about parties, policies, or platforms. They choose candidates like they're pushing buttons on a vending machine

[EffieBlack]

10. If someone voted for Trump based, not on issues, but his personality, who do you think

we should run who would be appeal to anyone who voted for Trump based on hi personality?

[loyalsister]

8. Why assume there would be a quid pro quo?

Are we to believe that there would be a former Trump voter PAC with the level of NRA or HRC bargaining power? I doubt it.
For most voters, when they see themselves represented in ways that are important, they forgive some policy disagreements. For example, I am going to vote for my Democratic senator despite her vote to roll back banking regulations because I know that she actually does represented me in other important areas.
Part of it is finding agreement on what will directly affect their quality of life. AND, most importantly getting people to come out of the echo chamber and talk policy without getting into arguments. It's not easy and we have to be up to the task of ignoring some of what they might have to say. But, it is possible. My dad voted for Trump, and would support Medicare for all. I'm not going to push it with him because he may not even be around to vote in the next election, but it's an example of a possible point of agreement that could move a conversation forward.

[EffieBlack]

11. Of course there would be a quid pro quo

A voting bloc that helps a party win an election fully expects their support to be rewarded.

[loyalsister]

13. You understand that that only works with organized groups, right?

If there were a PAC with numerous regretful Trump voters, maybe it would be something to worry about. But, we're not talking about the NRA, right to life, or other formal organizations with actual financial power.

[EffieBlack]

14. Riight

Keep thinking that. But some folk don't have the privilege of assuming that the people you want to invite into their home will be too disorganized to change the drapes, carpet, knock down some walls and break the windows.

[loyalsister]

17. Claiming victim based on imagined possibilities is a waste of energy

The tea party didn't have power until they were organized, raising money and then ran candidates. When you see an organized contingent of former Trump voters making demands then it's time to worry.

[EffieBlack]

18. You think that only an "organized contingent" can make demands within a political party?

Wow. Ok.

[loyalsister]

19. We're not talking about Charles Koch

If an individual threatens to withhold their $500 and or their vote, do you really believe that Democrats will have? Maybe if a few hundred line up and make a demand, but individuals have to have a lot more than average voters.

[maxrandb]

9. We don't need the fuckers, and I for one don't want them back

We don't need them to win. We need the vast majority of people that DON'T VOTE, but support Democratic policies and priorities by a 3-1 margin to come out and fucking VOTE!!!!!!

[ck4829]

12. Seeing as they had nothing to say about Muslim bans, an attempted transgender military ban,

the alt-right caring more about confederate statues than the lives of people protesting them, having a POTUS more offended by black people kneeling than white supremacists, etc. then I say welcome them back with their votes but they can be just as silent on how left of center the rest of the party is or the issues of groups they're supposedly not bigoted or racist against... since they clearly love being silent so much.

[EffieBlack]

15. But you know they won't be silent

And, as evidenced here, they'll have plenty of cheerleaders demanding that they be heard.

[ck4829]

16. And you're absolutely right